We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed.

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.

For without invention, no one was ever a great man in his own trade.

So long as the great majority of men are not deprived of either property or honor, they are satisfied.

Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived.

God creates men, but they choose each other.

For it must be noted, that men must either be caressed or else annihilated; they will revenge themselves for small injuries, but cannot do so for great ones; the injury therefore that we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance.